SOUTH COVENTRY — Set to host a choral competition this weekend, Owen J. Roberts High School’s choral director Sheila McIntyre saw her opportunity to reach out to a respected composer whose work the school has used for years.

“I took a chance,” McIntyre said.

Because of her shot in the dark, Sydney Guillaume was at a reception breakfast Thursday morning, preparing to direct the 165 students set to compete in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 12 Choral Festival over the weekend. Everything will culminate in a concert Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Owen J. Roberts High School auditorium. (The time originally was 2 p.m. but it was pushed due to the winter storm).

“Oh yes, (I’ve been excited),” Guillaume said of directing in the competition. “I’ve been in contact with Ms. McIntyre since the summer.”

Students from schools across District 12, which contains Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, will audition for the chance to move on to the regional competition against District 11, made up of Montgomery and Bucks counties.

After that, according to McIntyre, students can advance as far as the All-Eastern competition.

Eight Owen J. Roberts students, a mix of all four high school classes, are slated to compete.

To test them, all competitors have to memorize three different pieces but will be asked to sing just certain sections.

Multiple pieces by Guillaume are slated to be sung and a composition by Ben Hjertmann called “Alleluia” will be prominently featured.

Guillaume said the competition will be the debut of Hjertmann’s piece and that a Skype session from Chicago will be set up with him Friday.

“We’ll be able to go get his point of view,” on the piece, Guillaume said.

With rehearsals beginning Thursday afternoon, Guillaume said he was ready for three full days of music.

“Tonight, I will hear them for the first time,” Guillaume said at the breakfast Thursday morning.

Although it will contain several days “full of music,” Guillaume smiled and expressed readiness to direct the young talent.